Joe Meglen: 1913 a horrific year

There has been some chatter in recent political advertising in Colorado about repealing the 17th Amendment. The 17th Amendment was a federal government attack on state’s rights. Strong sovereign states are an essential element of the checks and balances established by the founders in order to maintain a limited federal government.

The Constitution established that senators are the state’s representatives in Washington. They were to be selected by the state legislators. State legislators are elected by popular vote. The founders did not want senators elected by popular vote because it would result in a democracy rather than a representative republic. The election of senators by state legislatures would, quoting Alexander Hamilton, “Be an absolute safeguard against federal tyranny.” Senators would vote as directed by the states. If they failed to do so, they would be fired.

In 1913, a corrupt federal government fraudulently enacted the 16th and 17th amendments and the unconstitutional Federal Reserve Banking Act. These were intended to consolidate power in D.C., enabling the transfer of wealth from the average citizen to the political elite and the privately owned banking monopoly called the Federal Reserve System. After the 17th Amendment, senators were elected by popular vote, “democratizing” the Senate, allowing out-of-state special interests to control who was elected.

Today, many senators get most of their campaign financing from outside their state. This is an obvious conflict of interest. This stripped sovereignty from the states. A recent pathetic example of this degeneration was watching Nebraska Gov. Dave Heinman publicly plead with Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson to vote no on the health care bill. Sen. Harry Reid bribed Nelson with the “cornhusker kickback,” and the rest is history.

Even if legislation were introduced, and passed by the House of Representatives, the Senate is not about to repeal the 17th Amendment. Because there is proof that it never was properly ratified, it is not law. Therefore, states that have an interest in reaffirming their constitutional rights should appoint their two senators and seat them in Washington. This will bring the subject out into the open. Repealing or nullifying the 17th Amendment is an essential part of restoring self-government.